Signal for columnar merchandising machine



March 4, 1958 Filed Jan. 4/ I952 INVENTOR. 4/?7/14/19 B 59/63 O HTTOANEY Uflitd itfis PatCt SIGNAL FOR CGLUMNAR MERCH ANDISING MACHINE Application January 4, 1952, Serial No. 264,923

7 Claims. (Cl. 221-6) My invention relates to a signal for columnar merchandising machines and more particularly to a signal adapted to advise a user that a column is empty or sold out and to inform the user of the price of the merchandise in the particular column.

For purposes of convenience I will describe my invention with respect to a candy merchandising machine in which certain columns of the machine are adapted to vend merchandise at five cents per bar and other columns are adapted to vend merchandise at ten cents per bar. The machine may be of the type shown in copending application of Christian Gabrielsen, Serial No. 192,485, now Patent No. 2,652,304, in which merchandise is adapted to be supported on shelves which are successively dumped. The uppermost shelf is the last shelf which is pivoted to deliver merchandise. My invention is adapted to coact with the uppermost shelf so that when this has been pivoted to dump the last candy bar my Sold Out signal will operate to display a Sold Out sign through a window formed in the door of the cabinet.

The use of a Sold Out signal is advantageous in a multicolumnar machine to avoid the annoyance and delay to a user of depositing money with the expectation of obtaining a particular candy bar only to find that the machine is depleted of this bar and necessitating the operating of the coin return to have the money returned. With my improvement a glance at the column will advise a purchaser that a column is empty and if this column contains the only bar in which the user is interested, time and trouble will be saved. In addition, the window normally displays the price of the particular bar of a column. This information is always necessary and is glanced at by a prospective user. My Sold Out signal is displayed in conjunction with the price information and is so arranged that it blanks this when a column is empty.

One object of my invention is to provide a simple and convenient Sold Out signal for shelf type merchandis ing machines.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved construction for mounting my Sold Out signal on the door of the cabinet normally giving access to the shelves for loading the machine.

A further object of my invention is to provide a flexible, simple operating mechanism for selectively displaying a Sold Out signal on a column of a multicolumnar merchandising machine when the column is depleted of merchandise.

A further object of my invention is to associate the Sold Out signal with a price signal which may be simply and conveniently adjusted to indicate the price of the merchandise in a column in such a manner that the Sold Out signal will blank the price signal when it is displayed.

Other and further objects of my invention will appear from the following description In the accompanying drawings, which form part of the instant specification and which ate to be read in con- 2,825,487 Patented Mar. 4, 1958 ice junction therewith andin which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views:

Figure l is a front elevation of a candy merchandising machine fitted with my invention drawn on a small scale.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1 drawn on an enlarged scale.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional viewtaken along the line 33 of Figure 2.

In general my invention contemplates the provision of a plurality of windows in the door of a merchandising machine. Means are mounted for pivotally positioning a price signal behind each window so that a user may see at a glance the respective prices of each column. Pivoted members are mounted on the door in any suitable manner normally biased to interpose a Sold Out signal between the price signal and the window so that the Sold Out signal becomes visible through the window and the price information is blanketed. Means are provided for holding the Sold Out signal in a position clear of the window whenever the uppermost shelf of a column is extended to support merchandise. Whenever the uppermost shelf is pivoted to dump the merchandise the Sold Out signal moves to view in the window under the influence of the biasing means.

More particularly referring now to the drawings, a shelf type candy merchandising machine shown in Figure 1 and indicated generally by the reference numeral 10 is provided with a door 12, which is adapted to be swung to open position to give access to the shelves. An operator arriving at a machine may find all or some of the shelves dumped to vertical position occasioned by purchases made by users. When the door is open the shelves are adapted to be positioned to a horizontal position by a resetting mechanism forming part of the merchandising machine after which candy may be placed on the shelves in the restocking of the machine. The door is provided with a plurality of windows 14 visible in front of the machine. Candy bars may be displayed in a plurality of compartments 16 and a push button or plunger 18 for operating the delivery mechanism is provided for each column. a

The door 12 carries a bracket 20 extending horizontally therealong secured thereto by means of rivets 22 or in any other suitable manner. A plurality of pins 24 are carried by the bracket 20 immediately above each window 14. Pivotally mounted on each pin 24 I provide a segment 26 which is advantageously painted white or some light color. A spring 28 urges the segment 26 against a bushing 30 carried by each pin 24. The segment 26 is adapted to be manually positioned to display price information through the window 14. As can be seen by reference to Figure 3, two price signs5 and l0are carried upon each segment 26. In Figure 3 the right-hand segment viewed from behind, which is the left-hand segment viewed from the front, displays the 5 price, While the adjacent segment 26 displays the 10 price. The friction generated by the pressure of spring 28 causes the segment to move against the bushing 30 and thus maintain the position to which it is set manually by an operator. Pivoted to the bracket 20 by means of pins 28' I provide a plurality of members 31. Each of the members 31 is provided with an arcuate slot 32' through which the bushing 30 passes. The slot coacting with the bushing serves to limit the motion of each member 31 around its respective pivot 28. The pivot 28' is positioned to one side of the center of mass of the member 31 so that the weight of the member will tend to move it to the position occupied by the central member in Figure 3, that is, with the "Sold Out signal behind the window and in front of the segment 26. The eccentric positioning of the member 31 with respect to its pivot serves to bias the member to move to a position V where it can be viewed through the window.

. 32 of the member 31. The spring 44 normally urges extend atright angles to the 'end 48 of the leve rfi Out signal inoperative condition. The righti-handi'side Q t member '51 through the flange-32fto -movetlie- I signal clear of the window. When the i1pper;she'lf 6il is chandis e empty. 'Inasmuch' as Ithe Eupper' shelvesfof V 'bl e' that the lever and' carnSd coact with thes'helve of. the 'door when open. an see jall of p :si'gnals' displayedf The pricel'segm'ents '26 are rea t accessible wvhenflthe door isopen and these for the various columns; "Tli e maeliinefis t en and-in this process theup'per shelf 60 is causes the rods I 5 9 to move downwar'gil f all of the Sold Out signals clearoftheWindOwS;

' retract its'rod'SG to peij under the influenceiojut jbras ,7 Pl ilh 1 ig q T t myinvention. ,1 havegprovideda,simple--andconvenient 7. sem nar: signaljors g which 'is mounted accessible posit' V f 1 o Theoupper portion of the member 31 is provided with a flange 32. The door 12 is provided with a-lining sheet 34 secured thereto in any suitable manner; A .plu'r'alitymf brackets 36'are secured toj'the lining 34." A'pluralitybf bolts 33 are mounted'in the liningsheet'34 'adjacentits upperpor tion. The lining is also formed with a pluralityof openings 40. A plurality of levers 42are formed with openings through which the bolts 38am positioned. rE ach bolt 38 carries a spring 44 maintainedi on the'lbolt by a .nut 46. The spring 44 thus urges the'ilever 42 against the lining 34. One end 48 of the lever carries a rod 50 which extends downwardly through the guide bracket 36 with the 'lower end '52 of thefrod contacting .the .flange the lever'to the position shown iif'FigureQ thatiis with the end 48 in generally horizontal position. ":Ifhis isiad complished by making the central portion 54 'of-the lever :In this manner the spring 44 Will tend teseauae-pqriton 54 of the lever against the lining 34; When th'e end 48 is horizontal the parts are'in position torpermit the m'emher site pivot to display position, that is, with-the sold of the lever 42 is provided with a cam portion -56 @iiWhen the uppermost shelf 60 is moved to horizontal p'os V on its edge will coact with the cam 56-to rotatethelever 42 in a counterclockwise direction around the"lower. edgeot;the angle formed bythe left-hand portion of. th'ei levefa'nd' the vertical portion-54 bearing again'st the lining late 34. This moves the roddownwardly an'd =pivots"the sewout dumped, the'spring 44 seats the fvertie'aLp sen- 5a V 5 against thelining plate 34 and raises'the rod-S0 'er'mit V the Sold Out signal 'to swing-into view-b md the window. The Sold Out signal may advantageously b'e painted red or any color differing 'froin' 'the price se ment,

so that a usercan'tell at a glance that'ta'column-ofrner each column maywary slightlyin width, itisnot desiraith'l great" precision. Mymounting means is suchithlatjjallow ances are automatically made for variations 'in the-dlmen 5 sions of th e parts-withoutafiecting the operationi of r g In use the doorjis swung openand immediatel V the levers l2 will -be novedthefrspringsasoih at t the rods 59 are retracted enabling',all "the ffSold tal position, after which merchandise is placeduppn' the ae torotate to meve its end ifi downwardlyu hi 1 m 5 Ye;

a column becomes depleted 'of merc'h 'd rrpermsf e sde nn fdlv r a vfft i l an .einie lever: 42" will againiimovefio; the horizontal p0 position,igmeans L'ca iedi'by the lev behind the. window." i

' fromth'e bottom er a colu'm t 7 shelf, means normally positio'ning the lever is 3.'A columnar-merchand sing machine as ;in;-el

at moua a th 'la' V I through the .samefwindoweasgthe 'Sold Out signal when a. column isfdepleted of mer 1 chandise. 'My price signal, may be readily adjusted toQ inform 'a user of the price of the merchandiserin a V particular column. My Sold .Out signal isso constructed that it need not bemade with precision and will read ily accommodate itself for difierences intdimensions of respective upper shelves with which my signal. eo-

operates." t It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility andwmay be employed'with'out reference ;to other features and subcombination s. This f is contemplated by and is within the scope of; my claims It'is further obvious that variousichanges maybe rnade indetails within the scope of my claims withoutidepart- .ing from the spirit of m invention, It is therefore'to' be understood that my' invention is not to be limited to V V p the specific details shown and described.

1 Having thus described my t mzwm 1, claim s i V. 1:In a qcolumnarlm reh m afiheusingfv 'adoor forg the iaousing; a Jp1ura1ity--of-pivoted shelves 7 adapted ,to holdarticles andktotlbe dumped successively V 7 from the bottom of a column to theitop'ito.delivenarticles- 7' and arrangedzinla tier, a wiudowtormed in the door'eor- H respondingito each ieolumn,apivotedmaernber mounted on thedo orhehind the window and bearing a Sold Out? indicator;meansitbiasingathe'pivoted member to a'posi tion viewabl'e' ithrough iwindoW- a lever swingably mountedionsthe?door 5adjacent thetop-(shelf means-nob".

mally positionin'g'ith lever in a -substantial V en-gag ble byth'ef top "shelf when in horizontal-positiontor swinging the" lever against ithe action I of the positioning @nieahs and per mittingithe positioning means to' movefihe le'verfto}horigaging the end of i -'the' leve1' arid he pivot'ed 'memberi 7V j mbergagainstfite biasing means to a position-clear {thew indow-in response toi i g the. swinging of the leverfagainst thelaction' of "its posif tioningimea'nsAh e (instruction being such that wnenthe' I top shelf" is dumped; the llever will'swing to ori ontal i position to permit the pivoted rneniber tofswing 'to vielw f 2.'jln a columnarmerchandising macliifie,na h'dusing indicate the pric'eofi theartiles in" the 'eolunin; a pivoted 'memoer mounted' on'the-fdoorbehind"the win dow and" bearing a Sold Out indicator;'means biasing thefpivotedf i member to a position viewable through th ii 7 7 indow a' lever swingably mfo'unted-'on tl'ie doo'ri adjacentthetop 'subst tially horizontal position,;mean s carried by the lever en gageahle by the. top shelf when horizontal position! for 7 V swinging-the l'lever 'a gainst the' action {oh the positioning 1 meansand'permitting theipositioning means' to move 1 leverrto horizontal positionwvhen thetop shelfis dumped, j arod eng'a'ging the end of .thezlevfeir and. the pivoted,niem

i berfadapted. to move thepivotedmemberlagaiiist its biasing 1 means .to a positionfclearzof the window :in L response V to the-swinging otihe ieve r'aga ins't theuactionfefits' posiei l 'tioning means, the construction being'such thatj'when-;the t topshelf: is gaam ee; thetleyer' will swing 1e horizontal: g position to permit; the pivoted fmemberto {swing tojviewj behi h iwi d wt n r a ro tlqt th p ieerindi -at -v 1 center. of gravity of the plate {wherebisa dplatewill tend to -rotate 'by grayity, stop means: for, itioning the plate Z5 behigidr thefwindow and meansicarr dbfy the-pl teqfote;.fi

engaging the rod whereby movement of the rod in one direction will swing the plate clear of the window and movement of the rod in the other direction will permit the plate to swing to View behind the window.

4. A columnar merchandising machine as in claim 2 in which said lever is formed with a bent portion intermediate its ends extending generally normal to the axis of the lever, said positioning means comprises a spring adjacent the bent portion adapted to bias the bent portion to seat against the door.

5. A columnar merchandising machine as in claim 2 in which the means carried by the lever engageable by the top shelf comprises an upwardly directed cam surface normally positioned adjacent the locus of movement of the edge of the shelf.

6. A columnar merchandising machine as in claim 2 in which said price indicator comprises a plate, means for mounting the plate for swingable movement behind the window and friction means for holding the plate in the position to which it is moved manually, said price indicator bearing several price legends, the construction being such that the price indicator may be manually adjusted to display an appropriate price behind a window.

7. In a columnar merchandising machine, a housing, a plurality of pivoted shelves adapted to hold articles and to be dumped successively from the bottom of a column to the top to deliver articles and arranged in a tier, a window formed in the housing corresponding to each column, a pivoted member mounted on the housing behind the window and bearing a Sold Out indicator, means biasing the pivoted member to a position viewable through lever in a substantially horizontal position, means formed on the lever independent of said top shelf and engageable by the top shelf when in horizontal position for swinging the lever against the action of the positioning means and permitting the positioning means to move the lever to horizontal position when the top shelf is dumped, said means formed on said lever being free of said top shelf when said shelf is dumped, a rod engaging the end of the lever and the pivoted member adapted to move the pivoted member against its biasing means to a position clear of the window in response to the swinging of the lever against the action of its positioning means, the construction being such that when the top shelf is dumped, the lever will swing to horizontal position to permit the pivoted member to swing to view behind the window.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 396,674 Vaughn Jan. 22, 1889 937,820 Ladue Oct. 26, 1909 1,032,989 Cawley July 16, 1912 1,349,953 Hanson Aug. 17, 1920 1,566,392 Fulwood Dec. 22, 1925 1,604,804 Butterfield Oct. 26, 1926 1,938,843 Leve et a1 Dec. 12, 1933 2,310,072 Fry Feb. 2, 1943 2,351,779 Niewoehner June 20, 1944 

